2024
Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab Added to Azacitidine Plus Venetoclax for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results from an Investigator-Initiated, Multi-Center, CTEP-Sponsored Randomized, Phase II Trial (BLAST AML-2)
Stempel J, Uy G, Dinner S, Gojo I, Reed D, Roy R, Byrd K, Yerrabothala S, Lai C, Doucette K, Caldwell A, Blaha O, Podoltsev N, Mendez L, Bewersdorf J, Kewan T, Wistuba I, Alatrash G, Haymaker C, Streicher H, Sharon E, Little R, Gore S, Radich J, Wood B, Zeidan A, Shallis R. Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab Added to Azacitidine Plus Venetoclax for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results from an Investigator-Initiated, Multi-Center, CTEP-Sponsored Randomized, Phase II Trial (BLAST AML-2). Blood 2024, 144: 736. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2024-210370.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhase II trialTreatment-related AEsII trialFrequent treatment-related AEsSafety run-in periodAllogeneic stem cell transplantationNo dose limiting toxicitiesRandomized phase II trialAML-2Multi-centerControl armSafety of pembrolizumabDose-limiting toxicityPD-1 inhibitionAnti-PD1 antibodyIncomplete count recoveryFLT3 wild-typeIntermediate cytogenetic riskStem cell transplantationAcute myeloid leukemiaActivated T cellsRun-in periodIntention-to-treat analysisCancer Immune MonitoringLong-term survival
2023
A multicenter phase Ib trial of the histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms or acute myeloid leukemia refractory to hypomethylating agents
Bewersdorf J, Shallis R, Sharon E, Park S, Ramaswamy R, Roe C, Irish J, Caldwell A, Wei W, Yacoub A, Madanat Y, Zeidner J, Altman J, Odenike O, Yerrabothala S, Kovacsovics T, Podoltsev N, Halene S, Little R, Piekarz R, Gore S, Kim T, Zeidan A. A multicenter phase Ib trial of the histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms or acute myeloid leukemia refractory to hypomethylating agents. Annals Of Hematology 2023, 103: 105-116. PMID: 38036712, DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05552-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDose-limiting toxicityAcute myeloid leukemiaMarrow complete remissionPhase Ib trialAdverse eventsIb trialDose escalationNCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation ProgramAcute myeloid leukemia refractoryHematologic adverse eventsProtocol-defined responseDose level 1Anti-PD1 therapyAnti-PD1 antibodyDose-escalation designLimited clinical efficacySystems immunology approachHistone deacetylase inhibitor entinostatLeukemia refractoryMCR patientsComplete remissionRespiratory failureSuppressor cellsEscalation designClinical efficacy